Test harness

A test harness is a software tool or framework that provides a set of utilities and libraries for testing software applications. It is used to automate the execution of test cases and to collect and analyze the results of these tests.

A test harness typically includes a test execution engine that can run test scripts or test cases, a data repository for test data, and a reporting mechanism to capture and analyze the results of the tests. It may also include additional tools such as debugging and profiling utilities, test management and tracking features, and integration with other software development tools.

Test harnesses are used to automate the testing process and to ensure that the software application being tested meets the required quality standards. They help to reduce the time and effort required to execute tests manually, and provide a consistent and repeatable approach to testing.

Test harnesses are an important testing artifact as they allow for efficient and consistent test execution, and can be customized to meet the specific needs of a project. They also help to ensure that testing is conducted in a systematic and repeatable manner, leading to more reliable test results.